Reluctant Guardian

by Elisha Bugg

  Richard tugged the key from his pocket and reached a hand for the lock. The key turned with a click.

  Anya held her breath, waiting for what was about to happen when she suddenly tripped, landing in a heap on the floor by Richards feet.

  She turned behind her, looking for what had tripped her, only to see Thane's foot tangled with her own, a small smile curving his lips as he winked down at her.

  Did he have a plan? She hoped so.

  Anya stayed on the floor, grasping her ankle in the pretence it was twisted, remembering the feeling well.

  Richard stared down at her, gritting his teeth and rolling his eyes, but still he crouched down and tested her ankle.

  Anya continued the lie, making out it was too painful to put pressure on, gasping when he lifted her gently to her feet.

  She'd expected nothing but annoyance from him, not a helping hand.

  When she turned back to Thane, he shrugged and smiled, making her stomach flutter and her anger disappear.

  With Richard’s attention back on the door that was no longer glowing, Anya leaned into Thane and whispered so only he would hear her, "What did you do?"

  He turned and glared, obviously not wanting to discuss it in front of Richard, leaving her again with more questions.

  “Hurry up,” Richard snapped over his shoulder, already descending the spiral staircase.

  With a deep breath Anya edged forward, peering into the darkness, wishing he’d light a torch as Hugh had.

  With each step, the darkness seemed to swallow them, until she could barely see her hand in front of her face.

  Anya reached her hands out, searching for the wall to help guide her lower, testing each step with her foot. Still she stumbled. Bumping into Richard, or being caught by Thane behind her.

  She hoped they were almost there, but with no way of knowing, or seeing the bottom, she relied on the men around her.

  The sounds of their footsteps on the concrete, and Lucas’s heavy breathing below were the only sounds she could hear over her own heart beating.

  What had Richard done to him?

  Anya forced her eyes closed, desperately trying to hold back her tears before Richard saw.

  When she reopened them, her vision flickered in and out of focus.

  She didn't understand at first. Then she remembered how Thane could see in the dark. She must be able to as well.

  'One of the many advantages to being a shifter,' Thane had told her.

  Thane's hand grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around as he leant his face close to hers and shook his head.

  What was wrong?

  Anya stared into his eyes, confused, until she saw the reflection of her own glowing in the darkness.

  She had to control herself, learn to keep her emotions in check whilst around those that meant her harm.

  Thane tucked her behind him, keeping a hold of her arm as he led her down the steps.

  He didn't need to, she could see fairly clearly now, but she didn't tell him that, savouring the comfort of having him touching and protecting her.

  As they rounded the last bend, she stopped dead in her tracks.

  Lucas was on the floor, lying completely still, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

  She couldn't see the injury Richard had mentioned earlier, but she knew that was the reason for his struggle.

  Moving closer to the bars, she came face to face with his glowing green eyes, shining bright like an emerald in the sunlight. Hauntingly beautiful. So much like Thane's in intensity.

  They swirled with different emotions as he sat up and moved toward her.

  "What do you want, Richard?" he snarled, looking past her.

  "I want you to give us a little demonstration. I brought the girl to make you a little more compliant."

  This time he didn't hold back his growl as he lunged at the bars, barking words in a language she didn't recognize. To her surprise Richard replied, calm and laid back.

  It was only as Lucas was gripping tight on the bars that she noticed the deep welts in his wrists, the bite marks on his arms.

  He'd tried to break free the only way he knew how, but it hadn't worked.

  Anya covered her mouth to stop the sob from escaping.

  She wanted to go to him, comfort him, but she couldn't, not with Richard there to see.

  "Come here," Richard called to Thane, leaning back against the wall, relaxed as though he were threatened like this every day.

  Thane stepped out of the shadows, his face solemn and serious.

  He nodded but she couldn't tell whether it was to Richard, or a greeting to Lucas.

  He continued to walk forward, stopping just behind her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder, an attempt to move her behind him once again.

  Anya resisted, trying to push his hand away.

  He couldn't tear her from her dad, not now she knew who he was, but Lucas whined, asking her to listen.

  As she moved away, she watched in fascination as Thane stepped within inches of the bars.

  Lucas stood up straight for the first time, coming eye to eye with Thane.

  She hadn't realised how tall he was.

  Most of her previous visit he'd been seated or slouched before he changed into a wolf.

  As she watched him now, he studied Thane with curiosity, cocking his head to the side as his eyes flickered to life once again. There seemed to be a silent communication between them as they stood there face to face.

  It was an overwhelming experience to watch, making her chest hurt, and her eyes fill with water once more.

  "You're a brave one," Richard commented, placing his hand on Thane's broad back. "Brave, or foolish."

  "The wolf can't hurt me when he's shackled in silver chains."

  "He may not be able to break free of them, but he can still cause damage if you stray too close. My scar is proof of that," Richard said, pointing to the nasty scar that ran across his face.

  Lucas smiled wide, flashing his sharp canines, obviously pleased by his handy work.

  "I'll bear that in mind."

  "Very well," Richard muttered, making his way to the staircase, "I’ll leave you here for a few minutes whilst I grab some things from my office. I trust you'll keep Miss Shaw safe whilst I'm gone, Thane? "

  "Of course."

  "And Miss Shaw? Do make yourself useful and ask the big bad wolf there to shift for us. It'll save me having to use the tools I'm about to retrieve."

  Anya nodded, unsure how else she could respond.

  It would be better for him to shift and save himself the torture he'd undoubtedly endure otherwise, but she didn't want to be the one asking him.

  All she wanted to do was be close and talk to him, free him if she had chance so she could hold him.

  The last thing that crossed her mind was asking him to shift for Richard's benefit.

  "Why did you bring her here, Thane? " Lucas demanded when Richard closed the door behind him with a deafening bang.

  "She's stubborn, I wonder who she inherited that trait from," Thane teased, glancing back and smiling over his shoulder toward her.

  "She's not safe here," Lucas croaked, looking her in the eyes as he spoke to her. "You need to run. They're suspicious of you already. It will only take Richard a matter of time before he has proof. He always gets what he wants."

  Was that what all of this was about? A test to see if she would pass through the door, giving him the proof he needed?

  It didn't matter now. They went through without Richard knowing the truth. But she wasn't prepared to leave. Not without Lucas.

  "I can't leave you here, not now I know who you are. What I am. "

  Lucas whimpered low in his throat, barely audible to her ears, she wasn't sure she had truly heard him until she saw a tear roll down his cheek.

  "I cannot protect you, Anya, and I fear Thane will be greatly outmatched. You need to run before they learn who you are."

  "I won't leave you!" she cried, unable to contain the t
ears any longer as they rolled down her face, burning hot against her cheeks. The salt bitter against her lips.

  "He's right, Anya, it's not safe for you here. I've been hearing rumours all night about Richard finding Lucas's long-lost daughter."

  Anya didn't understand how the hunters knew what she was. She hadn't found out herself that long ago. There was no way she had slipped up and made a mistake around them.

  "How?" she managed to ask when all other words escaped her.

  "You look so much like your mother. I'm sure that's why Richard has been suspicious since the start. Why he moved here in the first place. "

  Anya knew she looked the spitting image of her mother with her burgundy hair, and small frame, but her face was more like Lucas’s now she looked at him. Especially now she knew who she’d inherited the green eyes from.

  Surely not even Richard would condemn her on looks alone.

  She tried to remember all her meetings with Richard. All the times she could have given him reason to distrust her, but nothing stood out.

  "I- I'll do all I can to free you. I won't stop until I do," she stuttered, making her way toward the cell to hold him.

  He stretched his arms out as far as he could, straining against his shackles to hold her close whilst she sobbed.

  "I know you will," he muttered, burying his face in her hair.

  "I'm proud to call you my daughter. You've grown into an amazing woman. "

  The tears streamed down her face forcing her to cling to him, never wishing to let go, or leave him here.

  "Be safe," he whispered, releasing her and stepping back into the darkness of his prison.

  "But Richard's expecting me to ask you to shift."

  "I will when he returns. I promise you I'll do it without the need of force, after all, both the witnesses have seen me shift before."

  She couldn't argue with his logic. Of course Richard would have seen him shift over the years, and Thane, well he was Lucas's student for a long time, as well as his friend. He would have seen him in his wolf form many times. She on the other hand had only seen him change once, but she hoped she would see him do so again. When he was free, and could run through the woods like he no doubt longed to do.

  Anya said her farewells to Lucas, nodding when he asked her not to return.

  She couldn't promise she wouldn't come back to see him, she would find it difficult to stay away, but she needed him to believe she was safe.

  With her foot on the first step, Thane grabbed a hold of her wrist, spinning her around.

  "I'll come find you when I'm done. Tell you if I learn anything. Just, be careful."

  She nodded again, unable to speak past the lump in her throat, forcing herself to run up the stairs, not daring to look back.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  The shrill sound of chimes rang out from Thane’s pocket. A new message from Richard, informing him that plans had changed. Instructing him to return to the party after Anya’s ‘sudden departure’.

  Only Thane had no intention of leaving. Not yet.

  Instead, he stepped toward Lucas’s prison, and took a seat on the floor in front of him. Bowing his head slightly when Lucas joined him the other side of the bars.

  “I’m sorry it was Anya who had to find you here. That I allowed her back.”

  Lucas sighed, mimicking his seated position.

  “I can see she has spirit, just like Amelia. You couldn’t have kept her away.”

  “I never stopped searching for either of you,” Thane admitted, hanging his head in shame.

  “I know, but in doing so, you’ve destroyed your own chance of a life, and the happiness you deserve.”

  Thane didn’t argue, knowing it would be futile to try. He knew the last few years had been tough on him. That he had become more secluded and more hateful. But some people still managed to break through that barrier he’d built around himself.

  Lucas had always been one to see through his defences. It made sense that his daughter would be able to do the same.

  “I can smell her on your skin, Thane. I could smell you on hers the moment she stepped into the cellar, before I realised who it was standing before me.”

  “I tried to push her away, to keep her from this life.”

  “It’s better she learns about it now, rather than later. She needs to know how to protect herself. I trust you’ll teach her well.”

  Thane knew it was coming. He’d already discussed it with Edwin, knowing she needed to be taught how to embrace her gift and learn to control it. He just didn’t expect to be the one to teach her.

  He didn't think he would be strong enough to handle seeing her shift for the first time; if it turned out that she was able to.

  Just the sight of her eyes glowing as they had all those weeks ago threatened to destroy his control.

  Even now, remembering that piercing green shimmer, his chest ached, and his groin throbbed.

  Being the one to teach her would only end badly between them. But he didn't think he had the strength left in him to fight the pull.

  Suddenly, both men heard the door at the top of the stairs close and lock, shortly followed by heavy footsteps echoing down the narrow stairwell, and bouncing around the circular room they sat in.

  Richard was coming back, hoping to speak with Lucas, alone.

  Thane looked around him, searching for a place to hide.

  In the back of one of the cells he saw a gap just big enough for him to fit, between the frame of an old bed, and a hole in the wall.

  Squeezing between the broken bars of the old cell was difficult, and required a lot of adjustment, but he couldn't fail.

  Finally pushing through his torso, Thane caught his arm on the jagged metal where the bars had been broken, causing him to wince with the pain. The cut deep and no doubt dirty, but he couldn't afford to worry about it now.

  Seconds after he took his hiding position, Richard rounded the last bend and stepped onto the grimy floor, his boots thumping and crunching on the debris littered on the ground.

  Thane slowed his heartbeat and quieted his breathing, hoping that Richard's hearing was not as keen as his own.

  Lucas made a loud noise, gaining Richard's attention as he walked toward Thane, causing him to stop and turn.

  "Ah Lucas, it seems you were spared tonight. How considerate of the young Miss Shaw. "

  Lucas growled, turning his back on Richard to play with a sparkling chain Thane hadn't noticed him holding before.

  It had to be a gift from Anya. The chain resembling the one he’d seen around her neck several times.

  Another layer of ice surrounding Thane's heart fractured, leaving him wanting.

  "Now now, no need to get grouchy. You know what I want, why not make this easier on yourself and give me her name. "

  Lucas remained silent, playing the pendant between his thumb and forefinger, the shiny metal glinting as the light caught on it. Thane finally realised what she had given him. Not just her chain, but the key to this room. All he needed to do now was break free of the shackles binding him. A task Thane was only too happy to help find a way of achieving.

  "Not to worry, I'm sure we're already closing in on her, but if she turns out to be nobody of importance to you, Lucas, I'm sure Hugh will have his fun with her, or maybe I could."

  "Go to hell,” Lucas snapped, jumping to his feet, pulling against his restraints.

  "You will never get her name from me, no matter what dirty tactics you try. I would rather die."

  "And you will, once I'm finished with you-" Richard paused to move closer to the bars before adding, "-you know, the lovely Miss Shaw looks an awful lot like Amelia, wouldn't you agree?"

  Lucas remained silent, barely reacting as he continued to stare into Richard's face. A wise decision, even though Thane knew it was killing him to think Richard was so close to finding her.

  "I wouldn't know. I can barely remember her face."

  “Don’t lie to me, Lucas,” Richard growled, ra
ttling the bars.

  “I know how close shifters are with their mates. You would never forget her face, even if you'd been here a hundred years.”

  Lucas just continued to stare at him, pulling his lips back over his teeth as he growled.

  "You know she's dead though, don't you? That your child is now alone and defenceless, just waiting for me to find her?"

  It was Thane's turn to hold in a growl as he thought of Richard anywhere near her.

  Only, he was wrong about one thing. Anya was not alone.

  Since the moment Erebus had found her, she'd been protected. Edwin took her in as his own, the Guard claiming her as one of them. And now she had him.

  Lucas on the other hand growled deep and loud, lunging toward the bars. Gripping them tightly, he snarled in Richard's face.

  "Perhaps when I find her, I'll allow her to live so she can be mine.”

  Lucas dashed his hand out so quickly that even Richard was caught unawares, his throat clamped in Lucas’s vice like grip. His teeth elongated into fangs, dripping with saliva, rage swirling wildly in his glowing eyes.

  "She would never be yours,” Lucas spat, chucking Richard to the floor.

  Richard quickly scrambled to his feet, and dusted himself off.

  "Just as Amelia refused your affections, she will do the same."

  "I will enjoy killing her in front of you when I find her, or perhaps I will take her as my plaything even against her will. That would be worse than her death for you, wouldn't it?" Richard laughed, picking off the remaining debris from his jacket.

  Lucas turned his back on him, obviously having heard enough. But Richard remained, walking in the opposite direction, toward where Thane was hiding.

  Thane feared he might spot him as he squinted into the dark, but instead of continuing toward him, Richard took a seat on the bench outside the door.

  “You know. If you’d just give me the names I require, you and your child could be free. After all, none of them have come searching for you. It’s a good trade,” Richard offered, shrugging his shoulders and holding out his hands in a nonchalant manner.

  “I will never give you our leaders’ names, Richard. My daughter will understand and know you’re lying.”

  "You're such a disappointment, Lucas. I had hoped you would break sooner or later, but if anything you've become more stubborn. Maybe you've outlived your usefulness after all."